Rain rules at Taunton

Umpires confirm game as a draw shortly after 10am

Nick Compton: took his first-class runs total for the season to 715 on day three

Rain ruined the final day of the Division One clash between Somerset and Lancashire after heavy overnight rain at Taunton.

Much of the ground was left under water and with little chance of any play being possible, umpires Neil Bainton and Martin Saggers decided shortly after 10am to call things off.

Somerset had been due to resume their first innings on 87-3 and the wet weather has denied Nick Compton, who was 30 not out overnight, from continuing his quest to reach 1,000 first-class runs.

Lancashire had amassed 400 first time around, Steven Croft becoming the Red Rose countyt's first centurion of the season with 113, while South African Ashwell Prince weighed in with 96 during a 208-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Day Three

Somerset were reduced to 87-3 in reply to Lancashire's first-innings total of 400 at stumps on day three in Taunton.

Play did not get under way until 1.10pm and the visitors, on 395-9 overnight, required just seven balls to add the five runs required for maximum batting bonus points.

Without further addition to the total, Vernon Philander accounted for Simon Kerrigan (1), caught at gully by Arul Suppiah, to complete figures of 5-71, the South African seamer's second five-wicket haul in three championship games.

But Nick Compton (30no) and James Hildreth (30) forged a half-century stand to steady the ship before Hildreth went lbw to seam bowler Luke Procter (1-12) just before tea.

Craig Kieswetter (4no) joined the in-form Compton, who had taken his first-class tally 715 when a downpour ended a day featuring less than 40 overs shortly after tea.

Day Two

Somerset seamer Vernon Philander claimed three wickets but Lancashire were on the brink of maximum batting bonus points when rain ended day two of their County Championship fixture in Taunton before lunch.

Resuming on 363-4 on the second morning, Lancashire soon lost Gareth Cross (21) and Steven Croft (113), both caught behind in consecutive Philander overs.

Philander (4-70) also bowled Sajid Mahmood (3) during his spell of 3-6 in eight overs and there was a wicket each for his fellow seamer Peter Trego (2-76) and spinner George Dockrell (1-75).

Lancashire were reduced to 395-9, five runs short of a full house of batting bonus points, when the players were forced from the field at 12.25pm.

And that was it for the day as persistent rain ensured there was no further action, umpires Neil Bainton and Martin Saggers calling things off at 4.15pm by which time there were puddles on the outfield.

Day One

Steven Croft and Ashwell Prince helped Lancashire dominate day one of their LV= County Championship clash against an under-strength Somerset.

Croft became the Red Rose countyt's first centurion of the season with 113 not out while South African Prince fell just short of a ton, becoming a maiden first-class wicket for Craig Overton when he had 96 to his name.

The duo shared a 208-run stand for the fourth wicket in 49.1 overs, helping the visitors reach the close at Taunton on 363-4 after winning the toss.

They did lose Paul Horton in the opening over of the contest but Stephen Moore (47) and Karl Brown, who made an even 50, put on 95 for the second wicket.

The pair fell either side of lunch to leave Lancashire at 113-3, though from then on Croft and Prince cashed in against a Somerset attack missing the likes of Steve Kirby, Gemaal Hussain and Alfonso Thomas.

The absentees gave Overton a chance to make his debut, and the 18-year-old enjoyed a moment to remember when Prince pulled him straight to mid-wicket.